Multifunctional diet calculator

Abstract

This invention discloses a multifunctional diet calculator comprising a user operable input for receiving at least one target amount of at least one food substance to be consumed by a user and information regarding actual consumption of food substances by the user, a memory for storing target amounts of the at least one food substance and cumulative actual consumption thereof over a given period, a computation unit for determining the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption, an output device showing the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption, a prompt unit for providing at least one user sensible prompt during the given period for reminding the user to consume a food substance and a clock for providing timing information for at least the computation unit and the prompt unit.

I claim: 
     
       1. A multifunctional diet calculator comprising: a user operable input for receiving at least one target amount of at least one food substance to be consumed by a user and information regarding actual consumption of food substances by the user;   a memory for storing target amounts of the at least one food substance and cumulative actual consumption thereof over a given period;   a computation unit for determining the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption;   an output device showing the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption;   a prompt unit responsive to the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption for providing at least one user sensible prompt during the given period for reminding the user to consume a food substance; and   a clock for providing timing information for at least the computation unit and the prompt unit.   
     
     
       2. A calculator according to claim 1 wherein the at least one food substance may be one or more of the following group: calories;   water; and   cholesterol.   
     
     
       3. A substance intake calculator comprising: a user operable input for receiving at least one target amount of at least one food substance to be consumed by a user and information regarding actual consumption of solid and liquid food substances by the user;   a memory for storing target amounts of the at least one food substance and a target liquid volume and cumulative actual consumption of the at least one food substance and of liquid over a given period;   a computation unit for determining the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption; and   an audio output device responsive to the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption.   
     
     
       4. A calculator according to claim 3 wherein said information regarding actual consumption of liquid food substances includes, for each instance of liquid food substance consumption, a single indication of consumption of liquid food substance. 
     
     
       5. A calculator according to claim 3 and wherein said audio output device includes: a prompt unit for providing at least one user sensible prompt during the given period for reminding the user to consume a food substance; and wherein said calculator also comprises:   a clock for providing timing information for at least the computation unit and the prompt unit.   
     
     
       6. A multifunctional diet calculator comprising: a user operable input for receiving at least one target amount of at least one food substance to be consumed by a user and information regarding actual consumption of food substances by the user;   a memory for storing target amounts of the at least one food substance for a given period and cumulative actual consumption thereof over the given period;   a computation unit for determining the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption;   an output device showing the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption;   a prompt unit, responsive to the computation unit, for providing at least one user sensible prompt once the given period has elapsed for reminding the user to consume a food substance if actual consumption is less than said target amounts; and   a clock for providing timing information for the prompt unit.   
     
     
       7. A multifunctional diet calculation method comprising: receiving from a user at least one target amount of at least one food substance to be consumed by a user and information regarding actual consumption of food substances by the user;   storing target amounts of the at least one food substance and cumulative actual consumption thereof over a given period;   determining the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption;   outputting the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption; and   providing at least one user sensible prompt during the given period responsive to the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption for reminding the user to consume a food substance.   
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the at least one food substance may be one or more of the following group: calories;   water; and   cholesterol.   
     
     
       9. A substance intake calculation method comprising: receiving from a user at least one target amount of at least one food substance to be consumed by a user and information regarding actual consumption of solid and liquid food substances by the user;   storing target amounts of the at least one food substance and a target liquid volume and cumulative actual consumption of the at least one food substance and of liquid over a given period;   determining the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption; and   outputting an audio indication responsive to the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption.   
     
     
       10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said information regarding actual consumption of liquid food substances includes, for each instance of liquid food substance consumption, a single indication of consumption of liquid food substance. 
     
     
       11. A method according to claim 9 and wherein outputting an audio indication comprises: providing at least one user sensible prompt during the given period for reminding the user to consume a food substance.   
     
     
       12. A multifunctional diet calculation method comprising: receiving from a user at least one target amount of at least one food substance to be consumed by a user and information regarding actual consumption of food substances by the user;   storing target amounts of the at least one food substance for a given period and cumulative actual consumption thereof over the given period;   determining the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption;   outputting the relationship between the target amounts and the cumulative actual consumption;   providing, responsive to said relationship, at least one user sensible prompt once the given period has elapsed for reminding the user to consume a food substance if actual consumption is less than said target amounts; and   providing timing information for the prompt providing step.